Ledge



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. RUTLEDG-E.

GATE.

Patent ed Oct. 2, 1888.

IIVVEl/TOI? ATTORNEY wgmplwn Washingmn. n; c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. W. RUTLEDGE.

GATE.

.NO. 390,623. Patented 001;. 2, 1888.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,623, dated October 2, 1888.

Serial No. 271,115. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JonN WILLIAM RUT- LEDGE, of Shannondale, in the county of Montgomery and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates improvements in gates of that class wherein the gate is capable of operation, being opened and closed by a person seated in a vehicle or on horseback without dismounting, having for its object to prevent the weather-snow and ice or other causefrom interfering with the action of the catches, and to render more effective and simpler the means for actuating the latch, while the gate is adapted to be tightened and braced as occasion may require.

To these ends the nature of the invention consists of the detailed construction and combination of the parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims,

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved gate, and Figs. 2, 3, 4., and 5 are enlarged detail views of the same.

In carrying out my invention I employ a gate. A,which, preferably, consists of two end uprights, a a, and an intermediate upright, a disposed near the front end upright, and of three longitudinal rails or pieces, I) b If, one forming the bottom and one the top of the gate, while the third is disposed intermediately. The gate is further composed of a series of longitudinal rods, B B, and a diagonal rod or brace, 13', the ends of which are provided with screw-threads and nuts I), to permit of the tightenening up or bracing of the gate, as occasion may require. The gate as thus constructed is hinged or connected to the hinge-post 0, while at the closing end of the gate is a second post, 0, both of which posts 0 c are disposed, preferably, upon a sill, 0 and braced in position, as shown, or otherwise. As at present shown, each post has secured to it at one side,'near the upper end,the convergent uniting ends of diagonal braces d. The outer divergent ends of these braces are secured or fastened to one side of a cross or base piece, d, at its ends, while to the same side of the post 0 as that to which the braces are secured is applied a third brace, e, secured to the said post and an extension of the sill c ,respect ively. The post 0 may have applied to it two braces, 6, one secured to each side thereof at its upper end, while their lower ends are secured to an extension of the sill c at that end.

0 is the latch, which comprises a bar sliding in apertures in the uprights a a of the gate, and held in its forwardly-projecting position by a spring.f, connecting therewith and with the upright a.

O is a lever pivoted at its lower end to the bottom rail, b, of the gate and connected to the latch at about the middle thereof, said lever being held in keepers or guidesf, formed by rccessing the rails b I) and closing one side of each recess by securing to the rails cleats or strips opposite said recesses. The guides or keepersf may be simple staples or other suit able contrivances. The means for operating the latch lever C will next be described.

D is a cord or line,which is looped or passed once wholly around a pulley, g, mounted upon a rear extension of the top rail, b, of the gate. The cord is now passed each way through eyes or pulleys 9 applied to the underside of short horizontal arms on uprights E, one arranged a short distance beyond each side of the gate a little out of alignment with the hingepost c. The ends of the cord are permitted to depend within convenient reach of an operator, who may be seated in a vehicle or riding horseback, so that they may be manipulated by him withoutdismounting. Theextremelowerportions or ends of the cord may be weighted or knotted to prevent accidental displacement from the eyes or pulleys g.

The looped portion of the cord D'i. 6., that portion encompassing the pulley g-is connected with the latch lever O by a cord or wire, h, extending along the upper side of the top rail, N, of the gate A through eyes or staples 12 15, secured to said rail. As either end of the cord D is drawn upon, the gate will be swung open and the pulleyg at the same time will be revolved, so that the movement of the cord will also draw upon the cord or Wire 1', which in turn will actuate the latch-lever O and effect its retraction, which is necessary, as will be seen farther on, to disengageit from its catch or jamb-post.

Short distances inward from the uprights E,

and at about in alignment with the hinge-post c, are posts j j, from which project bevel-ended notched catches j j, which engage and temporarily hold the gate when open.

F is the catch, which engages the latch O to effect the holding of the gate A when closed. This catch consists of a case or closure, F which is horizontally fastened to the inner side of the post or jamb 0 and open at its lower side, but closed at all other points. Within this case or closure are hung or pivoted two plate-like levers, F F. Normally the outer ends of the levers F bear against the top of the case or closure F, while their opposite ends depend and stand a sufficient distance apart to provide for the reception between them of the projecting end of the latch O.

The foregoing construction of case or closure F prevents ice and snow or flying dirt or mud thrown up by the wheels ofa vehicle from entering the same and interfering with the action of the levers.

It will be seen that the latch C, as the cord D is drawn or pulled upon,will be moved endwise and be disengaged from between the levers F preliminary to opening the gate. Upon closing the gate the lever F on the side next to the gate will automatically yield as the latch comes in contact therewith; but the op posite lever F, depending from the case or closure F", will form a stop to the further movement of the gate as its latch comes in contacttherewith, while as soon as the latch 0 passes the yielding lever the latter will drop into its original position, and thus unite with its fellow or opposite lever in latching the gate in its closed position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the gate and its latch, of the catch comprising a case or closure closed at the top and open at the bottom, and the gravity-levers each formed of a solid unrecessed piece or bar and pivoted near their outer ends in the upper corners of the case or closure, with said ends resting against thelatter, while their opposite ends depend below the case or closure and stand parallel to each other and a short distance apart, substantially as set forth.

2. The gate consisting of the gate proper, carryi ng upon its upper rear end a pulley,the operating or manipulating cord or line carried or looped once around said pulley, which-looped portion of said cord or line is passed close up to said pulley through a looped cord or wire connected to the latch-lever, and which operating cord or line is arranged for manipulation by hand, the catch comprising the case or closure closed at the top and open at the bottom, and the gravity-levers each formed of a solid unrecessed bar or piece and pivoted near their outer ends in the upper corners of the case or closure, with said ends resting against said case or closure, while their opposite ends de pend below the case or closure and stand parallel to each other and a short distance apart, substantially as set forth.

JOIIN W. RUTLEDGE.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES E. Yonnos, (humans 1). SHANNON. 

